Erika S. outfits, teaching

Hater-ade

I’m a hater.  Lately it feels as if I’m spending too much time telling the kids what not to do instead of just enjoying and reinforcing what they are doing. It’s like I’m the mean teacher. I don’t know when this happened! Instead of being happy that kids are expressing themselves with a rap battle, I’m on alert, ready to shut down any potential negative stereotypes or sexist remarks.  Instead of letting the girls learn how to handle unwanted (I assume) male attention, I imediately jump in to lecture the boys on being respectful to women and that women are not objects.  Constantly I’m “no” this, “no” that.  No eating in class.  Put on your uniform.  No playing soccer in the halls. stop screaming at your friends while in the museum. NO all of the things.  I’m a hater and I’ve been drinking the hater-ade. It’s exhausing.
I need to chillax a bit, but I’m having a hard time because I know there are social politeness norms that I feel the kids need to learn. Or are these social norms I’m thinking of actually just my own? Or even worse, am I actually forcing kids into a box of prescribed behaviors? What if I’m stifling their creativity?!?
It seems as if as I get older the more type A I am. Maybe I’m just setting myself up for an ulcer. Anyone else have this problem? How do you deal?

In the meantime, I’m stuck in my own behavioral rut of white and black dressing. It’s working out for me.
chelsea
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cardigan: uniqlo – shirt: madewell – jeans: uniqlo – shoes: madewell

Erika S. outfits, teaching

Teacher Spotlight: Rachel

Rachel is the teacher spotlight this week!  I’ve always loved Rachel’s look – I’m pretty sure we shop at similar places.  Chances are good that if I’ve been debating on buying a particular dress or pair of shoes, Rachel will walk in to the staff room with that exact item on! I’m actually pretty surprised we haven’t inadvertently “twins-ied” yet. I loved Rachel’s jumper (as in playsuit, not sweater) today and was secretly envious that she could pull it off so well. One pieces never work for me since my height is all in the torso (not comfortable at all!) One day, I’ going to sew one for myself – extra long in the crotch. In the meantime, I can stare at Rachel’s and it’s awesome print.
We teachers always have something to learn from each other. Rachel, as a seasoned crew leader, has taught me how to have a crew and actually do good stuff with them. Last year, her crew kids were the only ones who put together their own community service project. At the time, I felt overwhelmed just thinking about organizing my crew for Student Led Conferences, not to mention a larger group effort to better the community. With some tips from Rachel though, I’m planning on tackling that this spring!

Rachel

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Rachel2

Rachel3
Rachel’s jumper: anthropologie from last summer – boots: j.crew

On another note, I’ve been uninspired by my closet lately and have been slopping it in my black jeans and buttons ups.  An example of this to come tomorrow.  In the meantime,  here’s yesterday in Central Park while out on a field trip with the 10th graders to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I busted out my old boy scouts shirt for the trip, and it helped me feel like a kid all morning on the way there.  But then, teenage shenanigans in the museum squashed my child like excitement and turned it into adult-like embarrassment.

Photo Oct 08, 12 46 15 PM

Erika S. outfits

Teacher spotlight: Millie!

New feature here on Teacher Have Lives Too!  I’m not the only teacher at my school that has a life while simultaneously maintaining impeccable (if I may toot my own horn a bit) fashion sense, so it was only a matter of time till I convinced a co-worker to share his/her style posing for me.  First up is Ms. Cruz, better known as “Millie!” (you have to say it with gusto as you wave both your arms in a circle) in our teacher lounge.  Millie teaches US History at my school and she has the. best. dresses. ever.  She is a perfect example of someone who knows what suits her petite frame and style.  She’s so loved by her students that one of my culinary kids snuck out a cookie for her last week!  millie

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Millies’s outfit is from: I don’t know because I had a brain fart and forgot to ask

Erika S. outfits

Autumnal

It’s Fall — meaning it’s time to bust out the flannels and the checks!  It was a cool 65˚F here in Brooklyn and I couldn’t be happier with this SF-like weather.  It’s the third week of school and I’m still working on trying to find a nice groove in my work flow.  Student schedules are still changing and I’m still trying to figure out how to teach my Urban Agriculture class (culinary/healthy eating/urban farming).  I’m channeling my inner Brooklyn hipster farmer today.  Also, new fall boots!  I had a very weak moment while browsing at Madewell and am now suffering from wallet guilt.  They’re tearing my heels apart right now as I break them in, but I’m holding out that they will eventually soften up.  Fingers crossed that I can finally stop with the constant blister first aid!

autumnal

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autumnal4End of the day yawns – pretty much par for the course on a Monday afternoon.

glasses: warby parker – shirt: uniqlo – jeans: bdg – boots: madewell

Erika S. outfits

To a Tee

I found this skirt at the start of summer at Beacon’s closet.  My friend Grace and I were out for a lazy walk in our ‘hood when we stopped in on a whim.  I’d been there to root around a few times before, but generally speaking, thrifting is not something a get a thrill out of.  But this day was my lucky day!  Equal parts cheeky, cute and teacher friendly.  It also fit me to a tee.  Zing!  I don’t play golf at all.  My only experience with golf was back in ’98 when I went with a boyfriend at the time to the driving range (back when there was one in Mission Bay) where he hit (drove?) a bucket of balls and I just watched.
to a tee2

to a tee3

to a tee4

It was hot as hell today and some ridiculous percent humidity.  My hair was down for all of the five minutes it too me to take these photos at lunch.  Also, the sweat just makes my glasses slide right off — it’s a constant battle to push them up, which means I get to inadvertently give people the finger sometimes.

to a tee

glasses: warby parker (I really want them in seaglass blue too) – tank: super old banana republic – skirt: beacon’s closet – shoes: worishofer

Erika S. outfits

First Day

This is my 5th first day of school, and by far the best.  The lesson went smoothly, the kids were all engaged and I didn’t loose my mind.  A success!!  This morning, I got on the subway and counted 5 other teachers on the same car as me.  It’s funny, I feel like I can spot fellow teachers from a mile away:  The large tote-ish bag, the hair pulled back in a no nonsense bun, conservative but still youthful dresses (mostly florals) and a zen-but-frazzled-on-the-inside demeanor.  That was me to a T today (except for the florals).  Of course, there was a cardigan involved at first…till I started to sweat right through it.  Then I started to regret my choice of top.  You win some, you lose some I guess.

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first day 2013

glasses: warby parker – tank: j.crew – skirt and shoes: madewell (last seen here

Erika S. outfits

end of summer

I’ve finally gotten to the point where I can say that I am ready for school to start — at least my classroom is.  All my learning targets are up, my lessons planned for monday, my planning documents submitted to administration, and my walls are covered with marked areas for my three different classes.  This year I’m teaching Living Environment, Urban Agriculture (farms and cooking) and then I have my Crew.  That’s a total of 138 on my roster, an improvement over my 170 my first year teaching.

Today’s shirt is a new one from Anthro that is a little bit beachy, a little bit greek-ish and a tad bit french-ish.  I like that it has pockets.

frenchie

greeky

beachie

top: anthropologie (on sale now) – jeans: f21 – shoes: saltwater sandals

Erika S. outfits

Joyful Learning

Some sociology PhD candidate should do a study on working in education and the use of buzz words.  I swear there must be a correlation between the use (or over use) of buzz words and the administration ladder.  The kicker is that every district has their own set of buzz words.  I’m imagining with every new chancellor/superintendent, the buzz words change.  In SF, the buzz words were data, accountability, informed instruction, and joyful learners.  Today’s theme was joy.  As in my joy Division shirt, joy in iced coffee, and joy in getting my classroom set up and ready for the first day of school.  Also, joyful in the fact that my jeans were still white at the end of the day.

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My two favorite things lately:  A birthday lipstick from B’s mum, sent all the way from Perth & a mini-Darwin figurine from my co-teacher Pam.  He’s the shit and the lipstick is bright and joyful.

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glasses: warby parker – tshirt: a present from my bud grace, but can be found here – jeans: uniqlo – shoes: saltwater sandals – lipstick: australis

Erika S. outfits

Acceptable in the 80’s

I’ve got hugz for you if you were born in the 80’s, the 80’s.  Yeah.

I’m back!  Or rather, my classroom’s back!  Today was the first day of planning week at my school. The big guns start coming in on September 9th, so we’re spending the next few days looking at curriculum maps and STAs (standard-learning target-assessments).  My brain is turning on again.   I decided to bust out my 80’s shirt today – a F21 knock off of the various jersey type t-shirts worn by my fashion idol jayne min here and here. Granted, I’m a year late on this trend, but…whateves.     It’s not quite my year (spot on ’80!), but it’s close enough.

acceptable in the 80's

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glasses: warby parker (my third pair!) – tshirt: f21 – skirt: super old banana republic – shoes: worishofer

Erika S. outfits

Ghosting out

The school is starting to thin out. Last day of proper instruction is in 2 weeks, all major projects are in and and the year is seriously winding down. So students have been ghosting in and out of class. Today, our school held our biannual Presentation of Learning, where students man course tables and present one project they have worked on in the past semester. Here is Cathy impressing the hell out of a few teachers with a print out (no internet) of her blog from our blogging intensive week. ❤
ghost party

ghosts

ghost arms

My dress is new – an impulse purchase (even on super sale) while shopping in DC one weekend with my sister, and not well suited for the rain we had today.

dress: equipment – shoes: madewell